Perry McInturff

In Memory of Perry

Perry was a beloved and unforgettable presence in Sellwood-Westmoreland for many years – a man who, in his own way, became part of the fabric of the neighborhood, and touched the lives of countless people.

Perry spent his early years living with his family in Sellwood-Westmoreland on S.E. 16th and Sherrett. His life was not always an easy one. As a young man, he found himself in trouble, and struggled to find his way. But, as the years passed, Perry came to understand something deeply important: The beauty and meaning that can come from helping others.

For most of his life, Perry experienced homelessness. Yet despite the challenges he faced, he remained a familiar and often reassuring figure in the Sellwood community.

In his younger years, it was hard to miss Perry walking through Sellwood-Westmoreland with his beloved dog, Keto. He was bronze, muscular, and often without a shirt, he had a distinctive presence that people remembered. One of his regular stops was Kienow’s, which is now QFC, where he would buy Keto an entire cooked chicken. It was a simple act of love that perfectly captured the bond between Perry and his dog.

One neighbor, Bruce Heiberg, once told his children, “if you’re ever in need of help and Perry is there, go stand by him – he will do what’s right, and take care of you.”

Perhaps one of Perry’s greatest gifts to the neighborhood was the garden he created near Westmoreland Park. He took a place that had been overtaken by blackberries and transformed it into a beautiful garden. He poured his time, energy, and heart into it. Perry loved when people stopped by. Adults would come to chat, and children would visit and explore. He welcomed them all. He seemed to understand that a garden could grow more than flowers and vegetables – It could grow community. There was even a calendar made of the garden, with pictures in it, in 2020.

In his later years, a local family, the Scruttons, noticed that Perry had been picking up trash daily around the neighborhood. They had a situation for which they needed help, concerning an eyesore property near them, so Perry proceeded to help them and clean it up. They presented him with the red “SOS — Save Our Sellwood” sweatshirt which he wore quite often. They occasionally gave him money as a thank you for helping out. Perry even cleaned out and planted a few flowers on a couple of traffic islands on S.E. 17th Avenue so that the area would look better for the neighbors. The SOS sweatshirt became a fitting symbol for a man who had become so closely connected to the place he called home.

Perry had an impact that went far beyond what he may have realized. He was an icon in Sellwood-Westmoreland for years – a familiar face, a protector, a gardener, a friend, and someone that people knew they could count on.

His life was complicated, and his path was not always easy. But somewhere along the way, Perry discovered the importance of showing up for people, caring for animals, tending to the earth, and doing what he believed was right.

For those who knew him, Perry was more than just a man they saw walking the streets of Sellwood-Westmoreland. He was part of their memories. He was part of the neighborhood’s story. Many neighbors and friends also reached out to help him if he had any needs.

And, for so many people, he will always be remembered as the man who was there – the man who helped; the man who cared; and the man who made Sellwood-Westmoreland a little more human.

Perry leaves behind many nieces and nephews, and his much loved partner, Selma. When he met Selma, it was because she was walking past the garden. She recalls, he was often followed by his cat, whom he called, “Compactor Kitty Puss” because he found his cat in the trash. When he realized she was alive he dropped everything and took her to the vet. He would make payments from bottles and cans he collected to save the cat. He especially loved his neighborhood, the beautiful area that he grew up in, and all of its wildlife.

Perry was the last survivor of his immediate family. His parents were Lester and Ruth Mcinturff, and Perry had seven siblings; he was the youngest son. The others were: Lester Jr., Willie, Sam, Linda, Sandra Kay, Grant Lee, Perry Wendel, and Zelda. He was also an uncle to a number of nieces and nephews!

Perry touched many lives, Sellwood-Westmoreland was a better place because he was there – his presence will be deeply missed.